WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tax Council Policy Institute (TCPI) announced today that its 15th Annual Tax Policy & Practice Symposium – "Why Taxes Matter: The Impact of Tax Policy on Strategic Business Decisions" – will be held on February 19 - 20, 2014, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC. The program manager for the event is Deloitte Tax LLP, which offers a broad range of fully integrated tax services. The high-profile Symposium will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions with leading tax authorities.

"For the past 15 years, TCPI's annual symposium has played a role in shaping debates, defining the issues, and shedding light on important tax considerations for our economy," said Lynda K. Walker, Esq., executive director and general counsel of TCPI. "This year is no exception, as we continue to bring together leading professionals from government, academia and the private sector to discuss the many reasons why taxes matter."

"Tax policy has a profound impact on our clients—from driving day-to-day business decisions, to implementing effective long-term growth strategies," said Carl Allegretti, chairman and chief executive officer of Deloitte Tax LLP. "As organizations face increased complexity due to expansion abroad and as taxing authorities request more information, tax directors must transform their people, process, technology and data to deliver against these additional requirements. Tax directors are also asked to deliver more strategic and value-added insights that advance corporate growth planning."

Innovation and globalization have transformed the global economy and the tax systems of other countries since 1986, when Congress last passed a major overhaul of the U.S. tax code. The additional pressure placed on tax officers to comply with these changing dynamics reinforces the urgency for collaborative discussions between business and government leaders on the impact and strategic role tax policy can play in the U.S. economy.

"Given the interest on Capitol Hill in tax reform and the ongoing fiscal challenges facing our country, the theme, location and topic of this symposium are particularly relevant." added Jonathan Traub, principal, Deloitte Tax LLP and managing principal of Deloitte's Washington National Tax policy group. "It will provide tax leaders – in both the public and private sectors – with a better understanding of the critical link between tax policy and business decision-making."

Each year TCPI selects program managers to help create and execute its annual Tax Policy & Practice Symposium. Deloitte has begun collaborating with the Symposium Planning Committee, which is comprised of 35 elite tax professionals from major worldwide businesses, on the program's theme and panels. TCPI and Deloitte will announce updates on speakers and panelists over the coming months.

"In bringing together some of the brightest minds in the country on tax policy, we are laying the groundwork to foster a comprehensive discussion on sustainable tax policies that can bring tax certainty to business and individual tax payer decision making," said Timothy Tuerff, partner, Deloitte Tax LLP and leader of Deloitte's Washington National Tax practice.

About Deloitte's Washington National Tax PracticeThe Washington National Tax practice provides the deep technical subject-matter knowledge that is integral to Deloitte Tax's ability to deliver world-class tax consulting services. Recognizing that our clients execute complex transactions every day, the Washington National Tax practice has established specialized teams to provide the knowledge and experience to address a wide range of tax issues.

The specialized teams of the Washington National Tax practice work closely with our clients and Deloitte local office professionals to analyze complicated issues and help manage risk in today's increasingly sophisticated business world. The Washington National Tax office also works in conjunction with the other Deloitte member firms making the resources of our worldwide network available to assist clients in addressing their business objectives.

About The Tax Council Policy InstituteThe Tax Council Policy Institute (TCPI), which was created in 1997, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit and non-partisan public research and educational organization. TCPI was created to help bring about a better understanding of significant federal tax policies that impact businesses and the national economy through careful study, thoughtful evaluation and open discussion. TCPI is affiliated with The Tax Council, an association established in 1966 for senior level tax professionals who work together to promote sound federal tax policies and a better understanding of our federal tax system.